PM Netanyahu: Governor Romney, Mitt, it's a pleasure to
welcome you here. I have to say that I heard some of your remarks a few days ago
- you said that the greatest danger facing the world is of the Ayatollah regime
possessing nuclear weapons capability. Mitt, I couldn't agree with you more, and
I think it's important to do everything in our power to prevent the ayatollahs
from possessing the capability. We have to be honest and say that all the
sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one
iota. And that's why I believe that we need a strong and credible military
threat, coupled with the sanctions, to have a chance to change that
situation.
We're going to discuss all these issues and the turbulent region that the
Middle East has now become in our talks. I want you to know that in this great
convulsion, there is one stable, democratic ally of the United States here in
the Middle East, and that's Israel; and that's why I think that strengthening
the relationship between America and Israel is in the interest of peace, in the
interest of both our countries, and I believe that your visit is an expression
of that desire on both of our peoples. So, I welcome you here on behalf of the
State of Israel, the champion of democracy in the Middle East, as a
representative of the United States, the greatest champion of freedom in the
world.
Welcome to Jerusalem.
Mitt Romney: Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Prime
Minister. It's an honor to be with you today. We do have a friendship which
spans the years, and at a critical time like this, I come to learn of your
perspectives and your ideas with regards to the challenges faced in the region
and challenges faced around the world. I'm honored to be here on the day of
Tisha B'Av, to recognize the solemnity of the day and also the suffering of the
Jewish people over the centuries and the millennia, and come with recognition of
the sacrifices of so many. Unfortunately, the tragedies of wanton killing are
not only things of the past, but have darkened our skies in even more recent
times.
Your perspectives with regards to Iran and its effort to become a
nuclear-capable nation are ones which I take with great seriousness and look
forward to chatting with you about further actions that we can take to dissuade
Iran from their nuclear folly. Your perspectives also with regards to the
developments throughout the region - in Syria, Egypt and other nations - will be
most helpful.
We have a relationship between our nations which spans many years, and at the
same time, is one based not just upon mutual interests, but also shared values.
Like Israel, we share a commitment to democracy, to freedom of speech, to
freedom of association, to the preservation of human rights; and these common
values and common principles have caused our nations to draw closer over the
years. And as we face the challenges of an Iran seeking nuclear capability, we
must draw upon our interests and our values to take them on a different course
and to assure that people recognize throughout the world that the United States
and Israel are bound in our commitments to one another.
So thank you. I appreciate the chance to be with you for our discussion and
also a chance to enjoy a meal together, breaking the fast for your family at the
end of the day, and look forward to a productive day. Thank you.